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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to ask neighbours not to walk across my driveway?

146 replies

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:05

Am I being unreasonable to ask neighbours to stop using my drive as a path?

I have a driveway in front of my property and the neighbour on my left has a driveway connected and in front of their property. The neighbour on my right has a drive way to the right of their property on the side. Everyday the right neighbours walk across my garden and up and down my driveway way rather than using their own path out of their house. To walk their dogs or head out on foot. It sets my doorbell off constantly. They walk down it regardless of if we are parked on the drive or not and walk very close to our cars which makes me worried they’ll get scratched. Our driveway is private property and not a shared communal space.

Would it be ridiculous for me to politely ask them not to as it’s setting the cameras off?

Might seem like a tiny thing but the constant notifications on the camera are annoying and despite them often being inconsiderate neighbours noise wise I have never said anything.

Please let me know your thoughts and whether if you were in my shoes this was something you’d do.

OP posts:
Velvera · 29/07/2026 16:04

ofcolitas · 29/07/2026 15:19

You can if you like obviously my neighbour did the same to me which I thought was really petty and I subsequently refused access to scaffolders when they wanted to replace the roof so be careful. The thing with neighbours is that everything is reciprical. If you think you're never gonna need anything whatsoever from them then by all means do so.

I'm with you.

Velvera · 29/07/2026 16:03

I wouldn't care.

TwirlingD · 29/07/2026 16:02

ofcolitas · 29/07/2026 15:27

Indeed I am. Which kind of proves my point. If you're going to be a knob, then don't be a knob to a knob, coz they'll be a knob back.😀

I suspect you were a pre-existing knob?!

Mermaidmusing · 29/07/2026 16:01

I wouldn’t bother asking them not to do it, as they are clearly inconsiderate, entitled twats not to realise, or care, that they are trespassing. They are not going to suddenly apologise and mend their ways.

Surely a fence would be the best way to delineate the boundary and solve this problem. Doesn’t have to be that high, but high enough that they can’t step over it.

Drost · 29/07/2026 15:59

YANBU to ask them to stay off your drive but don't blame the camera. They'll just say, or at least think, "switch your camera off then".

It's worth asking them first, but if they are going to be a dick about it then you might end up resorting to fences.

The odd step over the boundary is not worth stressing over but there should be general respect that it's your land not theirs.

Allseeingallknowing · 29/07/2026 15:59

rwalker · 29/07/2026 15:51

The door bell is perfect because it’s not a though your being awkward it’s a genuine reason

What do you mean?

Allseeingallknowing · 29/07/2026 15:58

impatientfury · 29/07/2026 15:55

Isn't it so very British to be utterly offended by someone walking over some demoted line on a plan somewhere. It's really not a big deal is it. It's land outside your house, they aren't marching through your house to get there. Feel like you need other things to concern yourself with.

It’s the property belonging to OP not a freeway for all and sundry! She has every right to be annoyed.

Yetone · 29/07/2026 15:58

OP, you are unfairly getting a lot of stick on here. I would put planters up.

Coconutter24 · 29/07/2026 15:58

ofcolitas · 29/07/2026 15:27

Indeed I am. Which kind of proves my point. If you're going to be a knob, then don't be a knob to a knob, coz they'll be a knob back.😀

Surely you were a knob first for walking on someone else’s private property without their permission?

paralinno · 29/07/2026 15:55

I'd just get some planter boxes to line up along the divide. You can get them with a little trellis on top. Just do that and say nothing. No matter what you say will be taken as provocative and they will be gunning for you! Not worth it. The planting will look gorgeous too and is non confrontational.

impatientfury · 29/07/2026 15:55

Isn't it so very British to be utterly offended by someone walking over some demoted line on a plan somewhere. It's really not a big deal is it. It's land outside your house, they aren't marching through your house to get there. Feel like you need other things to concern yourself with.

SandwichSuperstar · 29/07/2026 15:55

Allseeingallknowing · 29/07/2026 15:49

Trouble is, the sort of people who behave this way often don’t take kindly to such requests, however politely made!

Well she won't find out how they're going to take it by arguing on a chat forum 🤷‍♂️

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:54

AlphaApple · 29/07/2026 15:51

YANBU about the issue but YABU not to provide a diagram.

I don’t think that’s the case at all. Plenty of other posters have not required a diagram because I have explained the layout

OP posts:
rwalker · 29/07/2026 15:51

The door bell is perfect because it’s not a though your being awkward it’s a genuine reason

Cora0 · 29/07/2026 15:51

I’d also do planters or some sort of decorative fencing. Walking onto someone else’s property unnecessarily multiple times a day is rather unhinged and antisocial behaviour so I doubt asking them not to will get you anywhere. And if they’re already loud and inconsiderate in other ways they’ll probably just kick off if you ask them to stop trespassing.

AlphaApple · 29/07/2026 15:51

YANBU about the issue but YABU not to provide a diagram.

WhatAMarvelousTune · 29/07/2026 15:50

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:30

maybe I was brought up to respect other people’s property. I don’t think it’s petty to ask people to not trespass. It’s definitely petty to refuse scaffolders. Glad you’re not my neighbour

I think that’s the point they’re making - you’ve no idea if your neighbour is someone just like them! They’re already behaving in a way that you consider unacceptable by not respecting your property. So you can’t assume they’ll be as reasonable as you in response to the request. I think it’s fairly likely that people who frequently walk across someone else’s garden will be the kind of people who then won’t help out when you need something, as retaliation for what they perceive as pettiness on your part

What about a fence, or large plant pots, or something prickly planted along the edge?

0Thatsplenty0 · 29/07/2026 15:49

ofcolitas · 29/07/2026 15:19

You can if you like obviously my neighbour did the same to me which I thought was really petty and I subsequently refused access to scaffolders when they wanted to replace the roof so be careful. The thing with neighbours is that everything is reciprical. If you think you're never gonna need anything whatsoever from them then by all means do so.

Nobody tells you what to do right?

Allseeingallknowing · 29/07/2026 15:49

SandwichSuperstar · 29/07/2026 15:30

So why are you asking Mumsnet if you should politely ask them not to do it?

What's the actual point of the thread?

You don't want them doing it, so just ask them not to 🤷‍♂️

Trouble is, the sort of people who behave this way often don’t take kindly to such requests, however politely made!

RuffledKestrel · 29/07/2026 15:43

I very much recommend the tall planters-and-expanding-trellis as a fence method to stop neighbours doing this.
Just make sure it's under 1m in height and even if they complain about it, you are well within your right to fence your property in.

Allseeingallknowing · 29/07/2026 15:43

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:28

Having a camera doorbell is useful in lots of ways and very common. My driveway is part of my property not a free for all. It’s not petty to not want people trespassing on my property

I agree with you OP. Your neighbours are inconsiderate, ignorant and rude by not respecting your property. I have suffered people like these in the past. You shouldn’t have to ask them not to do this. All you can do is to ask them politely, or put a note through the door.

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:43

SandwichSuperstar · 29/07/2026 15:39

I didn't even mention your camera?

I'm asking what the point of the thread is in your opinion?

You're an adult woman, you have your own home. These are your adult neighbours.

They're doing something that's bothering you so just speak to them like the adults you all are, rather than wasting time arguing with strangers.

Actually you chose to quote me talking about my camera. Like I said I’m allowed to ask peoples opinions. If you want to know the point of my post maybe read my post again. I’m not sure what you’re struggling to understand? I’ve said am I unreasonable to ask and asked what they’d do in my situation.

Mumsnet is a place to ask opinions and give opinions which is what I am doing. Not sure why you’ve decided that’s suddenly not allowed

OP posts:
SandwichSuperstar · 29/07/2026 15:39

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:33

I’m asking what other people would do in this situation. Just like other people I’m allowed my opinion. The problem here isn’t the fact that I have a doorbell with a camera for security purposes. The problem here is people trespassing. My camera has nothing to do with that. By pointing out that my camera is useful it doesn’t mean I can’t post on Mumsnet asking for opinions about whether I should speak to the politely or not

I didn't even mention your camera?

I'm asking what the point of the thread is in your opinion?

You're an adult woman, you have your own home. These are your adult neighbours.

They're doing something that's bothering you so just speak to them like the adults you all are, rather than wasting time arguing with strangers.

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:38

ThisWiseRobin · 29/07/2026 15:37

While I respect your desire for a camera doorbell, I still think its really asking for trouble. You are lucky you don't live in terraces or old mill cottages like we do, where our washing lines even cross.
The secret to happy living in your house is not to piss off the neighbours. If you are so precious about your driveway go to www.webuildmoats.com

The difference is you choose to live in those properties. I don’t so there’s no reason why I should have someone walk across my garden and down my drive. Wanting privacy in my own home and on my property doesn’t make me unreasonable

OP posts:
ThisWiseRobin · 29/07/2026 15:37

Autumn02 · 29/07/2026 15:28

Having a camera doorbell is useful in lots of ways and very common. My driveway is part of my property not a free for all. It’s not petty to not want people trespassing on my property

While I respect your desire for a camera doorbell, I still think its really asking for trouble. You are lucky you don't live in terraces or old mill cottages like we do, where our washing lines even cross.
The secret to happy living in your house is not to piss off the neighbours. If you are so precious about your driveway go to www.webuildmoats.com